Recent controversy surrounding the Sydney Biennale has prompted fresh debate about how to tackle the ethical issues that frequently attach to international arts events. It’s not just a question for the short-lived Biennales, but for all museums and arts institutions with international programmes.

The Victoria & Albert Museum and the British Museum have both promised major loans to the Kremlin this year, and questions will undoubtedly be raised as to whether such collaboration can be justified. At a certain point, should museums respond to political disputes by breaking relations? Or is the opposite true that, in periods of tension, ongoing cultural exchange is more important than ever?